alt MORE SHADOWS have been cast over the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi by a row involving India's cricket tour to Pakistan and the cancellation of another major international event in the city.

 

A potentially damaging political row is brewing between India and Pakistan after India's Sport Minister came out strongly against allowing the country's cricket team to tour Pakistan next month.

 

M.S. Gill claimed that India should not tour a country where “people from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India”.

 

But the president of the Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi, claimed that sporting ties between India and Pakistan could help maintain peace.

He said: "That string should never be broken.

 

"And we should continue our dialogue through sports.

 

"But if it's a question of security, there's no question of our team touring"

 

The two countries have gone to war against each other several times since independence came for both in 1947 but India will not want the Commonwealth Games hit by a boycott involving Pakistan.

 

Meanwhile, the Indian Masters, co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), which was due to take place at the Delhi Golf Club in February has been cancelled.

 
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, the vice chairman and chief executive of ‘golf in Dubai’, organisers of the Delhi tournament, said: “We have done everything possible to ensure that the second edition of the Indian Masters was played in 2009 but with this tournament we considered that the current economic uncertainty coupled to security concerns made it impossible for us to present the tournament in the manner that we would wish to for world class golfers.
 
“The inaugural edition of the Indian Masters played earlier this year created quite a buzz in India with the home-grown talent SSP Chowrasia beating a strong field to take the honours.
 
"The tournament, the first on The European Tour to be played in India, provided the home players an opportunity to hone their competitive skills in the company of some of the world’s finest players and we are confident that we will achieve this again in 2010."
 
Mike Fennel, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), insisted earlier this month that the event will not be moved from New Delhi.
 
However, besides fears over security, there are also growing concerns about the pace of building the facilities and infrastructure needed to host the Games and lack of accommodation for overseas visitors.